WPIAL Girls Lacrosse Playoff Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 13, 2016 | 9:48 PM

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The brackets have been announced for the 2016 WPIAL Girls Lacrosse Playoffs which are set to begin on Wednesday and Thursday and conclude with the championships at Highmark Stadium at Station Square in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 26th. Here is a rundown of all eight Division-I and eight Division-II postseason qualifiers.

Division 1

#1 Pine-Richland Rams (17-1) (11-1) – 1^st Place Division 1 – Section 2

Head Coach: Brittany Pikur (1^st Year)

Key Players: Soph. MF Marina Miller (Penn State), Sr. MF Maura Flaherty, Jr. MF Caitlyn Byerly, Soph. D Megan Lieberman (Liberty), Sr. MF Maddie Kurlandski

Key Wins: 14-12 over Peters Township, 15-7 over Mars, 16-4 over Latrobe, 14-6 over Fox Chapel, 16-4 over Franklin Regional, 13-7 over Hampton, 9-8 (OT) over Upper St. Clair, 16-10 over Quaker Valley, 10-9 over Fox Chapel, 16-8 over Franklin Regional

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in Quarterfinals (1^st Round) 15-4 to Shady Side Academy

Championships: None

 

#2 Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils (14-2) (11-1) – 1^st Place Division 1 – Section 1

Head Coach: Brian Kattan (7th Year)

Key Players: Sr. MF Sophia Klaber (Bucknell), Soph. MF Alexis Gibbons (Lafayette), Sr. MF Megan Gibbons (Lehigh), Sr. G Rachel Kline (Wheeling Jesuit)

Key Wins: 11-7 over Peters Township, 16-14 over Chartiers Valley, 19-9 over Peters Township, 11-10 over Chartiers Valley, 10-9 (OT) over Upper St. Clair

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in Championship Game 11-9 to Quaker Valley

Championships: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2014 – Division 1

 

#3 Quaker Valley Quakers (14-3) (10-2) – 2^nd Place Division 1 – Section 2

Head Coach: Nellie Kraus (5th Year)

Key Players: Jr. MF Rachel Bould (Central Michigan), Jr. GK Sophia Poppenberg, Sr. MF Maddie Pesicka, Sr. MF Emily Kraus (Central Michigan), Sr. Attack Aubrey Bouchard, Sr. D Emily Pilewicz

Key Wins: 15-12 over Pine-Richland, 13-6 over Franklin Regional, 14-13 over Fox Chapel, 15-11 over Franklin Regional

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Won Division 1 Championship 11-9 over Mt. Lebanon

Championships: 2009, 2010 Division 2, 2015 Division 1

 

#4 Chartiers Valley Colts (10-2) (10-2) – 2^nd Place Division 1 – Section 1

Head Coach: Kim Eldridge (1^st Year)

Key Players: Sr. MF Maria Stamerra (Cinncinnati), Sr. D Alivia Cangelier, Sr. MF Margo Mason, Sr. MF Lauren Ellis

Key Wins: 7-4 over Upper St. Clair, 10-8 over Peters Township, 10-8 over Upper St. Clair, 15-9 over Peters Township

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in PIAA Consolation Match 15-8 to Shady Side Academy

Championships: None

 

#5 Fox Chapel Foxes (10-4) (9-3) – 3^rd Place Division 1 – Section 2

Head Coach: Jen McCrady (7th Year)

Key Players: Jr. MF Meg McCrady (Georgetown), Sr. MF Nikki Stumpf (Liberty), Jr. Attack Mikayla D’Cunha, Soph. MF Kate Goodwin, Sr. D Julia Lynch

Key Wins: 12-6 over Franklin Regional, 8-6 over Quaker Valley, 12-8 over Hampton, 9-7 over Franklin Regional

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in Quarterfinals (1^st Round) 16-4 to Mt. Lebanon

Championships: None

 

#6 Upper St. Clair Panthers (12-6) (7-5) – 3^rd Place Division 1 – Section 1

Head Coach: Brianne Laffey (2^nd Year)

Key Players: Sr. MF Chelsea Johnston (IUP)

Key Wins: 7-6 over Mt. Lebanon, 12-6 over Peters Towsnhip

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in Quarterfinals (1^st Round) 19-3 to Quaker Valley

Championships: None

 

#7 Franklin Regional Panthers (9-6) (6-6) – 4^th Place Division 1 – Section 2

Head Coach: Eric Barnabei (3rd Year)

Key Players: Sr. MF Jessica Watt (Findlay), Jr. G Maria Cefola

Key Wins: 10-5 over Hampton, W 15-10 over Shaler

Last Playoff Appearance: 2011 – Lost in Quarterfinals (1^st Round) 16-9 to Peters Township

Championships: 2010 Division 1

 

#8 Peters Township Indians (8-7) (6-6) – 4^th Place Division 1 – Section 1

Head Coach: Sarah Lawrence (1^st Year)

Key Players: Soph. G Jamie Keller (Robert Morris), Jr. MF Mia Toscano (Liberty), Sr. Attack/MF Alexis Dailey (Seton Hill), Sr. MF Jessica Bulseco (Seton Hill), Sr. G Stephanie Shakespeare (Allegheny)

Key Wins: 8-7 over Fox Chapel, 10-9 (OT) over Upper St. Clair, 20-15 over Mars

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 – Lost in Semifinals 11-9 to Quaker Valley

Championships: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 – Division 1

 

Division 2

#1 Blackhawk Cougars (14-1) (10-0) – 1st Place Division 2 – Section 2

Head Coach: Kevin White (6^th Year)

Key Players: Sr. MF Nicole Cuddy, Sr. D Taylor Curtiss (Columbia (SC)), Sr. D Molly Guthrie, Sr. D Natalie Moyer

Key Wins: 11-4 and 9-5 over Bethel Park, 8-4 over Butler, 12-5 over Shaler

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost championship game 10-5 to Shaler

Championships: None

 

#2 Mars Planets (13-3) (10-0) – 1st Place Division 2 – Section 3

Head Coach: Lindsay Flavion (2^nd Year)

Key Players: Sr. MF/A Eden Fletcher (Lock Haven), Sr. MF Shannon Doyle (Central Michigan), Sr. GK Charla Tate  (Gannon)

Key Wins: 9-7 over Blackhawk, 20-7 and 22-8 over Butler, 12-9 over Hampton

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in Quarterfinals 14-13 to Moon

Championships: None

 

#3 Shaler Titans (12-5) (9-1) – 1^st Place (tie) Division 2 – Section 4

Head Coach: Jen Perestock (7^th Year)

Key Players: Jr. GK Raychel Wertz, Jr. MF Ashley Warren, Jr. ATT Kara Jans, Sr. ATT Sara Sempelsz (Edinboro)

Key Win: 9-4 over Hampton

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Won in Championship game 10-5 over Blackhawk

Championships: 2013, 2014, 2015 – Division 2

 

#4 Latrobe Wildcats (12-1) (10-0) – 1^st Place Division 2 – Section 1

Head Coach: Kaytie Russo (6^th Year)

Key Players: Sr. ATT Jessica Kostic, Jr. GK Abby Sobota

Key Wins: 10-5 and 13-6 over Hempfield

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in Semifinals 10-6 to Blackhawk

Championships: None

 

#5 Hampton Talbots  (10-6) (9-1) – 1^st Place (tie) Division 2 – Section 4

Head Coach: Kelsey Viets (2^nd Year)

Key Players: Sr. ATT Emily Beran, Sr. ATT Jackie Adler, Jr. MF Caroline Larkin, Sr. MF Julia Podvin

Key Wins: 13-1 over Butler, 6-4 over Shaler

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in first round 10-9 to Baldwin

Championships: None

 

#6 Bethel Park Blackhawks (7-5-1) (7-2-1) – 2^nd Place Division 2 – Section 2

Head Coach: Becky Luzier (8^th Year)

Key Wins: Jr. MF Kayte Zeiler, Jr. MF Delaney Lacey, Jr. MF Zoe Zilcosky

Last Playoff Appearance: 2013 – Lost in Quarterfinals 19-7 to Shaler

Championships: None

 

#7 Hempfield Spartans (12-2) (8-2) – 2^nd Place Division 2 – Section 1

Head Coach: Mandy Ormsby (1^st Year)

Key Players: Jr. ATT Sam Orie, Fr. MF Mackenna Orie

Key Wins: None

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 – Lost in Quarterfinals 14-4 to Blackhawk

Championships: None

 

#8 Butler Golden Tornado (11-4) (8-2) – 2^nd Place Division 2 – Section 3

Head Coach: Ashley Argyros (1^st Year)

Key Player: Jr. ATT Alexis Miller (Gannon), Megan Crawford

Key Wins: None

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 – Lost in first round 11-7 to Ellis School

Championships: None